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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed November 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FH20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1s was launched 11 months after the FH20 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL1s scores versus the FH20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic FH20

 E-PL1s FH20 
IntroducedNovember 2010January 2010Newer by 11 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 FH20 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FH20

 E-PL1s FH20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s offers outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic FH20 has proportions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FH20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1s vs the FH20.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and FH20 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching specifications. The image here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and FH20.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FH20 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL1s should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Panasonic FH20 Street photography info
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography features
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography features
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery (290 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
64
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
37
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Panasonic FH20
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-11-16 2010-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 178g (0.39 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $599 $179